There was quite a bit of excitement leading up to Taylor Swift’s live stream on Yahoo at 10pm UK time last night. She started dropping clues about the stream a few weeks ago, and it didn’t take a genius to work out that there was going to be some kind of announcement about her fifth album. Which there was.
Fact stream: It’s called 1989. That’s the year she was born. Every physical CD comes with a 13-page photo book, and the images will vary from CD to CD. It’s not clear how many different versions there will be. The album comes out on 27 October and you can pre-order it through her website now. A deluxe version will include three extra ‘tracks’ which are actual voice memos she recorded on her phone.
The first single is called Shake It Off and it’s about shaking off all the crap people say about you. Yes, she mentions her dating life. No, she doesn’t mention specific men. As with all great pop songs, the lyrics can be applied to one’s own life and not just to the life of a celebrity. It’s not Britney Spears Piece Of Me, okay?
She says the new record is heavily influenced by 1980s pop, revealing: ‘I really loved the chances they were taking. I loved how bold it was. It was, apparently, a time of limitless potential… The idea of endless possibility was kind of a theme in the last year of my life.’
Then there’s the excellently-titled 1989 ‘Swiftstakes’ during which 1,989 prizes will be given away, including 1,000 concert tickets, 500 meet ‘n’ greets and – we assume – 489 other prizes.
So, there you have it. The big reveal. Here’s the video for Shake It Off, during which she shows off her self-deprecating, goofy side yet still manages to look gorgeous in the process. Natch.
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.